yes plz
Michigan To Play All The Iffy Pac-12 Teams
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The rumored Utah series is now official:
Utah will host Michigan in Rice-Eccles Stadium in the 2015 season opener as a part of a home-and-home series that begins with a 2014 game in Ann Arbor. Michigan will make its first Salt Lake City appearance on Sept. 3, 2015 in a rare weekday game for the Wolverines, who have never played on a Thursday. The first game of the series is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2014 in Michigan Stadium.
Michigan becomes just the second Big Ten team ever to play in Salt Lake City. The Utes knocked off Indiana 40-13 in Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2002.
"A home-and-home series with Michigan is the kind of opportunity that comes with membership in the Pac-12 Conference," said Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill. "I greatly appreciate Coach Whittingham's willingness to add college football's winningest program to his already difficult 2014 schedule, which will also feature five Pac-12 road games."
![180px-Utah_Utes_logo.svg[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/c01bb7103cba_AB53/180px-Utah_Utes_logo.svg1.png "180px-Utah_Utes_logo.svg[1]"){kind=logo}
You'll note that the Wow Factor has been factor'd by playing in the Thursday night slot usually occupied by Mississippi State's latest flailing interception machine.
But wait, there's more! Michigan has released the entire 2015 nonconference schedule, which is as follows…
2015
Sept. 3 at Utah
Sept. 12 Notre Dame
Sept. 19 Oregon State
Sept. 26 UNLV
…and bits of the 2016 schedule, featuring ND, a home game against Colorado on September 17th and two TBAs likely to be punching bags. The Pac-12 agreement is tentatively scheduled to start the year after, so Michigan's eliminated ND-and-three-dwarves nonconference scheduling for the foreseeable future. That's a positive even if none of the teams incoming has much sex appeal.
But wait, there's more!
In addition, Michigan and Notre Dame will take a two-year hiatus in their long-standing rivalry during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Both schools intend to resume the rivalry in the years following.
That may be "less," actually. We'll see if Michigan fills that slot with a quality opponent when the time comes.
Questions
Are those Oregon State and Colorado games one-offs? Or are they home and homes with return dates set for the distant future? (If one-offs: coup. If not, okay.)
If so can we expect the Oregon State and Colorado games to slot into that 2018 and 2019 ND hiatus along with the Pac-12 agreement? (If so: meh.)
When was the last time Michigan played three BCS-ish teams in a nonconference schedule, as they will in 2015? (A: 1997, when they played Baylor, Colorado, and ND. They also did so in 1996 (Colorado, BC, UCLA) and 1994 (BC, ND, Colorado).)
What is our deal with playing Utah? (Seriously.)
June 27th, 2012 at 12:31 PM | 
but wheeeeeeen will we play
but wheeeeeeen will we play
June 27th, 2012 at 12:38 PM |
What's the deal with playing
What's the deal with playing
What's the deal with playing Utah? Maybe Brandon's a Mormon.
Seriously though - I lived in Salt Lake right after I graduated from Michigan for two years (82 & 83) and it's a pretty cool city all things considered. Once you get used to the odd drinking rules in place it's not a bad place to spend a few days. Too bad we're not playing a bit later in the season cause the skiing there is in my humble opinion the best the continental US has to offer.
June 27th, 2012 at 3:17 PM |
At least Huntsman got rid of
At least Huntsman got rid of
At least Huntsman got rid of those private club things where you had to buy membership and only got minis. But still, licenses are restricted, you still have to pour drinks out of view of the customers, and have to order food in order to get anything stronger than a bud light. I was just there for work last week and wondered why there were no taps at the bar. Other restaurants - the types of places that would serve beer at least on other states - are dry.
Haven't been to a ski resort in Utah yet, but I've also heard good things. One of these days will go snowboarding in Utah! (glad some of the resort finally relented on THAT front, too!)
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
June 27th, 2012 at 12:39 PM |
I think it is beyond cool
I think it is beyond cool
I think it is beyond cool that Sione Houma's family will be able to see him play in his home state.
June 27th, 2012 at 1:05 PM |
Beavers returning to the Big House? Thinks of GERG and
Beavers returning to the Big House? Thinks of GERG and
shudders.
Your opinion has no value.
June 27th, 2012 at 12:40 PM |
should there be a year
should there be a year
should there be a year for when we played BC, ND, Colorado or am i reading that last bit wrong?
June 27th, 2012 at 12:48 PM |
Thursday
Thursday
We have to play them sooner or later. Might as well at least do it on Thursday and make sure it is on ESPN. On a Saturday, Michigan vs Utah has a decent chance of getting exiled over to the BTN or some other network normally reserved for when some scrub Dakota team kicks Minnesota's ass.
Better to be the premier season opener game on a Thursday than the crappy game on Saturday (which no one but Michigan watches, because everyone else is watching the Jerryworld kick off classic thing).
June 27th, 2012 at 12:48 PM |
If Michigan plays in the Sat
If Michigan plays in the Sat
If Michigan plays in the Sat noon spot, people bitch. If Michigan plays in the Sat 3:30 spot, people bitch. If Michigan plays in the Sat night spot, people bitch. Why should Thursday be any different at all!
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th
I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm
June 27th, 2012 at 12:57 PM |
So your objection is they're scheduling it
So your objection is they're scheduling it
When you don't like it scheduled, instead of when someone else doesn't like it scheduled. Gotcha.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
June 27th, 2012 at 1:08 PM |
I bitch about Thursday night
I bitch about Thursday night
I bitch about Thursday night games because I work on Thursdays, and live in PST, so unless the game starts unreasonably late for you Michiganders, I either need to miss half the game or take vacation time to watch a football game on tv. That's not cool with me.
June 27th, 2012 at 1:16 PM |
I hav one word for you,
I hav one word for you,
I hav one word for you, "tivo".
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th
I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm
June 27th, 2012 at 1:55 PM |
First of all - I don't know
First of all - I don't know
First of all - I don't know about Wyoming, but in the non-middle of nowhere we use DVR now.
Now, knowing that you're maybe the least understanding person on the Internet, I'll respond anyway.
I cannot wait and watch a Michigan football game on delay. I can't resist checking what's going on since it's too easy to do so with a phone and iPad. And even if I could manage to do that, I get texts from family and tons of college friends anytime something good or bad happens in a game, and since I use that same phone for work, I can't just ignore it.
I just shouldn't have to go through all of that. Play football on fucking Saturdays. It's worked pretty damn well so far.
June 27th, 2012 at 3:10 PM |
Have to admit that I enjoyed
Have to admit that I enjoyed
Have to admit that I enjoyed the "knowing that you're maybe the least understanding person on the Internet" jab.
June 27th, 2012 at 3:16 PM |
So, it's everyone else's fault
So, it's everyone else's fault
So, it's everyone else's fault that you have no self control? It's not that hard to DVR the game, power off your iPad, iPhone and any other form of technology that may or may not make you aware of the score until you get home and can start the game.
My cousin got married on the UTL game last year. I DVR'd the game, told everyone around me that I will punch them in the face if anyone told me the score, dodged the douche bag DJ announcing the score and made it home to watch the game in its entirety. I enjoyed the crazy finish as if I was watching it live, even though I was 3 hours behind the rest of the world.
THAT was a real pain in the ass, but I didn't blame my cousin for getting married on that day. I did what every Michigan fan should do in that situation.. Man up and make it happen. If you're commited to it, you can avoid hearing the score and watch the game in its entirety. Have a little self control and commitment fergodsakes.
Besides, it's one game. Stop whining.
June 27th, 2012 at 3:32 PM |
Except that my iPad and
Except that my iPad and
Except that my iPad and blackberry are company issued and need to be used for work, so it's not like I can hole myself up in church like you. For work, I can't disconnect from the world. By the way, I would totally blame your cousin, but I would certainly feel for you if you had to miss it.
But you're just one person. We're a whole time zone of people getting screwed over. This is not me having a family commitment that I'm bitching about. This is the AD not caring about those of us on the west coast with jobs. I'm far from the only one pissed about this, by the way.
June 27th, 2012 at 4:06 PM |
So you have an iPad
So you have an iPad
Watch ESPN App, and you can watch the game AT work, as it will invariably be on ESPN. Or ESPN3. Problem solved.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
June 27th, 2012 at 4:22 PM |
I downloaded that app, only
I downloaded that app, only
I downloaded that app, only to find out AT&T uverse doesn't support it. You need the right cable provider, and mine is wrong, unfortunately.
June 28th, 2012 at 3:49 AM |
mgoblue.com....
mgoblue.com....
has the radio feed for a small fee for your commute home. Nothing like Beckman and Brandstatter!
Go Blue!
June 28th, 2012 at 12:06 PM |
That sucks.
That sucks.
I'd say that's what you get for having AT&T, but heck, they just came to terms with Comcast, and that serves far more. But then again...maybe in 3 years they'll have it. I wouldn't doubt it. It's a long time from now to come to contract terms.
Heck, by then your iPad will be out of date and Apple will be streaming 3-D images straight to our brains.
(Didn't push ESPN3 on your computer as hard because who knows what your company allows to stream or not)
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
June 27th, 2012 at 1:55 PM |
Kickoff will probably
Kickoff will probably
Kickoff will probably be sometime between 5:00 and 6:00 PST so if you work a normal schedule, You should be able to see most, if not all, of the game.
June 27th, 2012 at 1:59 PM |
I doubt 6 pacific is
I doubt 6 pacific is
I doubt 6 pacific is realistic since that would mean 9pm for most viewers and that's a late Thursday night. But even so, I work till 5 or 6 and have about an hour commute (pretty typical for LA traffic). It's just a fucking pain all around.
June 27th, 2012 at 1:56 PM |
In exchange for perfect
In exchange for perfect
In exchange for perfect weather, hot chicks and not having to watch monday night football games end after midnight, you get shitty options for watching college football. i say a fair deal
June 27th, 2012 at 2:19 PM |
Wow, the level of empathy
Wow, the level of empathy
Wow, the level of empathy people have for their fellow alumni is staggeringly low lately.
What about M fans in Seattle? They don't have nice weather or hot chicks? Fuck them?
But that's not the point. LSU or USC can do this all they want, because their fans are all in one time zone. We're a national fan base, and it sucks that the AD says fuck you to those of us on the West Coast, when we were supposed to be a big reason for scheduling Pac 12 teams to begin with.
EDIT: Or how about this - since it costs us west coasters about a grand per person, all things considered, to see a game in person, most of us rarely get to go to the stadium, so we'd like to at least be able to watch each game on tv. Not too much to ask.
June 27th, 2012 at 2:20 PM |
One assumes a Michigan alum
One assumes a Michigan alum
One assumes a Michigan alum should be a high ranking member of his company and thus have the power to say "Hey I'm coming in a few hours early and leaving a few hours early on Thursday". If not, you're not a real Michigan man.
Snark aside:
Guess which Thursday you want to have a 2:30 pm dentist appointment on? Just take the afternoon as a sick day (preventative) for the appoitntment. Just avoid the eye doctor, they dilate your eyes and it makes watching TV a pain.
In general though, no I have no sympathy for your problem. I pulled shifts at the hospital during football games, I got up at ass o'clock in Korea to watch games, having to find a way to bail out of work early or miss the first quarter of a single game is not a huge deal. If Thursday nights become a common occurence (as opposed to what we do every couple of years when we have to visit the home stadium of a small market PAC team) then I'll care, but until then, meh.
June 27th, 2012 at 2:35 PM |
Just say, "I care about
Just say, "I care about
Just say, "I care about myself and not others" next time and it will save you a lot of typing.
June 27th, 2012 at 3:22 PM |
That kinda sounds like your
That kinda sounds like your
That kinda sounds like your motto. I wouldn't want to steal it from you.
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th
I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm
June 27th, 2012 at 4:10 PM |
Funny, all I hear from this is
Funny, all I hear from this is
"if it affects my schedule and no one cries with me, they don't care about anyone but themselves" but other things that screw up other people's schedule "don't matter as long as it's on Saturday and doesn't mess with my schedule, but I am more empathetic than you".
So I'm guessing you objected to all those elderly alums who had to drive home in the dark because of the night game this year. I mean, Michigan had never done it before, so they should have done what they always do...play at noon or 3:30. (Dammit...3:30 doesn't work either...should have stayed at 1 pm, like Bo wanted it!)
At least we don't have to worry about the Twins making it to the World Series anymore...
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
June 27th, 2012 at 4:21 PM |
See, I absolutely feel for
See, I absolutely feel for
See, I absolutely feel for those alums who had trouble with the night game, because that sucks for them. I would never tell someone to stop complaining if that was a legitimate problem for them.
I'm not saying people need to complain with me if it doesn't affect them, but don't tell me my complain is invalid. This is a scheduling issue that affects a lot of people, and somehow today I became the spokesperson for all of them. No one needs to say "yeah he's right" I'd they don't feel like it, but they don't need to say "quit your bitching" just because it's not their problem. When a lot of people complained about a neutral site game in Dallas rather than a home and home because it meant less home games for season ticket holders, I didn't tell them their complaints were wrong, just because I was going to watch it on TV no matter where it was.
Now, when someone says they can't make a game because of a scheduling conflict for a normal game, that's one thing. But when a large group of people are affected, it's a valid complaint, that's all I'm saying.
June 28th, 2012 at 12:04 PM |
See, I only responded negatively to this one
See, I only responded negatively to this one
Because you basically dismissed his examples of how every time is something SOMEONE struggles with "just say you don't care". People may care, but don't think it's the be all end all you're making it, because a lot of times and events people struggle with. And they make adjustments, and arrangements. Which you seem to refuse to make for one game 3 years from now. People take off from work to go to long distance road games, but you don't seem like you feel you should ever have to be bothered with such things. He's saying lots of people have these issues with times you don't. You're worrying about a game 3 years from now...you may not even have the same job you have right now 3 years from now. Worrying this much whether you can get a couple of vacation hours in seems overblown. That's why people aren't crying in their beer with you.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
June 27th, 2012 at 2:33 PM |
Besides it being a joke, I
Besides it being a joke, I
Besides it being a joke, I can't believe you want empathy because you have to leave work early or watch the game on delay one time three years from now. boo fucking hoo.
Maybe Dave Brandon should consider the ex-pat wolverines in China and Hong Kong when considering future schedules too. Wouldn't want to make them wake up 3:30 am on a Sunday, so lets cancel all late afternoon games.
June 27th, 2012 at 2:41 PM |
No, Dave Brandon should just
No, Dave Brandon should just
No, Dave Brandon should just do what Michigan has done since it started and play games on Saturdays. That's all.
So fine, it doesn't affect you. That doesn't mean you should be an asshole to the people it does affect. I may be the only one posting about it here, but every one of my M fan friends out here are equally pissed. If DB made some decision that alienated a large group of M fans, but not me, I wouldn't say "boo fucking hoo I'm OK so you can eat one" because having to miss a Michigan football game sucks.
June 28th, 2012 at 3:40 AM |
DB..
DB..
alienates a group of Michigan fans with every decision he makes. He has a difficult job and cannot please everyone.
Go Blue!
June 27th, 2012 at 2:40 PM |
How do you know
How do you know
The game isn't at 10 pm as part of a doubleheader?
June 27th, 2012 at 2:43 PM |
I don't know that. If that
I don't know that. If that
I don't know that. If that becomes the case, then I'll be in good shape, but that will be even more dumb because so many fans in Michigan will have to miss it because lots of people (especially kids) won't be ale to stay up until 1:30 am to watch the end. I hardly doubt they would schedule a Michigan game that late.
June 27th, 2012 at 2:45 PM |
I don't know that. If that
I don't know that. If that
I don't know that. If that becomes the case, then I'll be in good shape, but that will be even more dumb because so many fans in Michigan will have to miss it because lots of people (especially kids) won't be ale to stay up until 1:30 am to watch the end. I highly doubt they would schedule a Michigan game that late.
Weird, my edit made a second post.
June 27th, 2012 at 4:26 PM |
OK - obviously no one has
OK - obviously no one has
OK - obviously no one has sympathy for us west coasters, which whatever. I'm done. I still think Thursday games are stupid, and not only because it's a work day. Next time any of you want my sympathy, which will certainly be never, I won't be giving it. I just thought fellow M grads and fans could empathize with a group of us who have a major DB gripe. People can bitch all they want about jerseys and music and marching bands, but one guys bitches about a weeknight football game and he's bombarded.
Whatevs.
June 27th, 2012 at 5:06 PM |
No, we just aren't
No, we just aren't
No, we just aren't sympathetic to entitled children. Football isn't an inalienable right, ffs. Grow up and accept the fact that you have to miss a football game.
whatev, dawg
June 27th, 2012 at 7:05 PM |
That is something I will
That is something I will
That is something I will never accept. Maybe I'm in the wrong place - since when do we have the attitide - "It's just Michigan football bro, it's no big deal to miss the games."
Hell, people get pissed when the students miss the first four minutes.
June 27th, 2012 at 7:40 PM |
I too am in SoCal, but
I too am in SoCal, but
quityerbitchin fergodsakes. What about all those people all across the country that work on Saturdays, they finally get to enjoy a live UM game on Thursday night. Life's not fair, deal with it and stfu.
June 28th, 2012 at 10:59 AM |
And there's this!
And there's this!
Think of all those Orthodox Jewish Michigan alumni in Salt Lake City who will get to go to the game!
EVERY game is good for some, not good for others. I'm sorry for WolverineinLA if we all seem like insenstitive dicks, but we're talking about the first Thursday night game for Michigan EVER, which is also THREE EFFING YEARS away from happening. From my perspective, tt is hard to get too wound up over how much this one future game might inconvenience someone. Even if that someone is a loyal fan.
Candace: No... That why they make smart word box for tell monkey hard brain-hurty things.
Phineas: Removing prepositions makes it more condescending.
June 28th, 2012 at 12:11 PM |
But that's just it...if it IS that big a deal, don't miss it.
But that's just it...if it IS that big a deal, don't miss it.
Take a vacation day. Take a couple of vacation hours. It IS that big a deal. Don't act like it is that big a deal to you and no one else, but then act like you won't make adjustments to your life for it when so many others do. You don't get to see it in person often, no...but then, your commitment to watching the game is basically turning on the tv 2 minutes before kickoff. People get up at the crack of dawn, load a car, cook, walk, get home late, travel from out of town, get hotels to stay in for the night, take the day off work to head out to Iowa, or Penn State, deal with opposing fans, get rained/snowed/heat wave'd/froze. Having things like work, and life conflict. Everyone has to find a way to make do at some point. I had to leave a game against Eastern straight from the Stadium to drive to Chicago to go to a family wedding. I couldn't be there for the night before stuff and go to the game. Things have to give. Everyone does it. This one is your turn. It's that important to you, as it is to many others. Find a way to make it work instead of complaining that this one time you have to deal with what everyone else always has to deal with.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
June 28th, 2012 at 3:25 AM |
Call in sick or...
Call in sick or...
schedule a vacation too SLC if it's that big of a deal. I work midnights. Do you think I'm happy about all the late games this year? Figure it out. That is what fans do.
Go Blue!
June 27th, 2012 at 12:49 PM |
In 2011, those "scrub teams"
In 2011, those "scrub teams"
In 2011, those "scrub teams" playing on Thursday night included Oklahoma State, LSU, Oregon, USC, Virginia Tech and Texas.
Good call.
June 27th, 2012 at 12:57 PM |
It was last season. Maybe
It was last season. Maybe
It was last season. Maybe there's a trend toward stronger programs playing on Thursday nights. Stay away from Fridays and I'm fine with it.
June 27th, 2012 at 12:58 PM |
Well it's like... the most
Well it's like... the most
Well it's like... the most recent one. And it's four of the top ten teams from the end of the year.
For today, goodbye. For tomorrow, good luck. And forever, Go Blue.
June 27th, 2012 at 1:01 PM |
We better end up in the top
We better end up in the top
We better end up in the top ten that year or I'm blaming you sir chunkums!
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th
I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm
June 27th, 2012 at 1:01 PM |
2010 featured USC, Bama,
2010 featured USC, Bama,
2010 featured USC, Bama, Texas, Miami, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Florida State and Virginia Tech, among others....
2009 had Texas, Nebraska, the Oregon vs Boise State matchup, The Civil War, Miami, among others...
June 27th, 2012 at 1:03 PM |
Teams that played on Thursday
Teams that played on Thursday
Teams that played on Thursday nights in 2010:
Ohio State (number 2 at time), Miami, USC, Auburn (national champs), Oklahoma State, Nebraska (number 7 at time), Oregon (number 2 at time), Va. Tech, Alabama, Texas, Texas A & M.
Again, good call.
June 27th, 2012 at 1:18 PM |
That Texas v. A&M game
That Texas v. A&M game
That Texas v. A&M game doesn't really count, though, as it was on Thanksgiving.
But the larger point is dead on. And just to pile on
2009: Oregon (x2), Miami, Nebraska, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech (x2), plus a 12-1 Cincinnati and a 14-0 Boise State, plus the Texas - A&M game on Thanksgiving if you want to count that.
June 27th, 2012 at 12:41 PM |
I like it. I would much
I like it. I would much
I like it. I would much rather play the Colorados and Utahs of the world then Division 1 bottom feeders and also-rans. Looks better for schedule rankings and TV air time. Maybe away games at Pac 12 schools can help us out a little with the West Coast recruiting as well.
but wheeeeeeen will we play EMU and a FCS team with a really good band?